Dangerous Goods by Road
Design type approval certificates and certificates of conformity - including the technical
documentation - shall be retained by the manufacturer or by the applicant for the type approval, if he
is not the manufacturer, and by the inspection body, who issued the certificate, for a period of at least
20 years starting from the last date of production of products of the same type.
When a manufacturer or owner intends to cease operation, he shall send the documentation to the
competent authority. The competent authority shall then retain the documentation for the rest of the
period specified in 1.8.7.1.5.
Type approval
Type approvals authorise the manufacture of pressure receptacles, tanks, battery-vehicles or MEGCs
within the period of validity of that approval.
The applicant shall:
(a) In the case of pressure receptacles, place at the disposal of the relevant body representative
samples of the production envisaged. The relevant body may request further samples if
required by the test programme;
(b) In the case of tanks, battery-vehicles or MEGCs, give access to the prototype for type testing.
The relevant body shall:
(a) Examine the technical documentation specified in 1.8.7.7.1 to verify that the design is in
accordance with the relevant provisions of ADR, and the prototype or the prototype lot has
been manufactured in conformity with the technical documentation and is representative of the
design;
(b) Perform the examinations and witness the tests specified in ADR, to determine that the
provisions have been applied and fulfilled, and the procedures adopted by the manufacturer
meet the requirements;
(c) Check the certificate(s) issued by the materials manufacturer(s) against the relevant provisions
of ADR;
(d) As applicable, approve the procedures for the permanent joining of parts or check that they
have been previously approved, and verify that the staff undertaking the permanent joining of
parts and the non-destructive tests are qualified or approved;
(e) Agree with the applicant the location and testing facilities where the examinations and
necessary tests are to be carried out.
The relevant body shall issue a type-examination report to the applicant.
Where the type satisfies all applicable provisions, the competent authority, its delegate or the
inspection body, shall issue a type approval certificate to the applicant.
This certificate shall contain:
(a) The name and address of the issuer;
(b) The name and address of the manufacturer and of the applicant when the applicant is not the
manufacturer;
(c) A reference to the version of ADR and standards used for the type examination;
(d) Any requirements resulting from the examination;
(e) The necessary data for identification of the type and variation, as defined by the relevant
standard;
(f) The reference to the type examination report(s); and
(g) The maximum period of validity of the type approval.
A list of the relevant parts of the technical documentation shall be annexed to the certificate (see
1.8.7.7.1).
The type approval shall be valid for a maximum of ten years. If within that period the relevant
technical requirements of ADR (including referenced standards) have changed so that the approved
type is no longer in conformity with them, the relevant body which issued the type approval shall
withdraw it and inform the holder of the type approval.
NOTE: For the ultimate dates for withdrawal of existing type approvals, see column (5) of the tables
in 6.2.4 and 6.8.2.6 or 6.8.3.6 as appropriate.
If a type approval has expired or has been withdrawn, the manufacture of the pressure receptacles,
tanks, battery-vehicles or MEGCs according to that type approval is no longer authorised.
In such a case, the relevant provisions concerning the use, periodic inspection and intermediate
inspection of pressure receptacles, tanks, battery-vehicles or MEGCs contained in the type approval
which has expired or has been withdrawn shall continue to apply to these pressure receptacles, tanks,
battery-vehicles or MEGCs constructed before the expiry or the withdrawal if they may continue to be
used.
They may continue to be used as long as they remain in conformity with the requirements of ADR. If
they are no longer in conformity with the requirements of ADR they may continue to be used only if
such use is permitted by relevant transitional measures in Chapter 1.6.
Type approvals may be renewed by a complete review and assessment for conformity with the
provisions of ADR applicable at the date of renewal. Renewal is not permitted after a type approval
has been withdrawn. Interim amendments of an existing type approval (e.g. for pressure receptacles
minor amendments such as the addition of further sizes or volumes not affecting conformity, or for
tanks see 6.8.2.3.2) do not extend or modify the original validity of the certificate.
NOTE: The review and assessment of conformity can be done by a body other than the one which
issued the original type approval.
The issuing body shall keep all documents for the type approval (see 1.8.7.7.1) for the whole period of
validity including its renewals if granted.
In the case of a modification of a pressure receptacle, tank, battery-vehicle or MEGC with a valid,
expired or withdrawn type approval, the testing, inspection and approval are limited to the parts of the
pressure receptacle, tank, battery-vehicle or MEGC that have been modified. The modification shall
meet the provisions of ADR applicable at the time of the modification. For all parts of the pressure
receptacle, tank, battery-vehicle or MEGC not affected by the modification, the documentation of the
initial type approval remains valid.
A modification may apply to one or more pressure receptacles, tanks, battery-vehicles or MEGCs
covered by a type approval.
A certificate approving the modification shall be issued to the applicant by the competent authority of
any Contracting Party to ADR or by a body designated by this authority. For tanks, battery-vehicles or
MEGCs, a copy shall be kept as part of the tank record.
Each application for an approval certificate for a modification shall be lodged by the applicant with a
single competent authority or body designated by this authority.
Supervision of manufacture
The manufacturing process shall be subject to a survey by the relevant body to ensure the product is
produced in conformity with the provisions of the type approval.
The applicant shall take all the necessary measures to ensure that the manufacturing process complies
with the applicable provisions of ADR and of the type approval certificate and its annexes.
The relevant body shall:
(a) Verify the conformity with the technical documentation specified in 1.8.7.7.2;
(b) Verify that the manufacturing process produces products in conformity with the requirements
and the documentation which apply to it;
(c) Verify the traceability of materials and check the material certificate(s) against the
specifications;
(d) As applicable, verify that the personnel undertaking the permanent joining of parts and the
non-destructive tests are qualified or approved;
(e) Agree with the applicant on the location where the examinations and necessary tests are to be
carried out; and
(f) Record the results of its survey.
Initial inspection and tests
The applicant shall:
(a) Affix the marks specified in ADR; and
(b) Supply to the relevant body the technical documentation specified in 1.8.7.7.
The relevant body shall:
(a) Perform the necessary examinations and tests in order to verify that the product is
manufactured in accordance with the type approval and the relevant provisions;
(b) Check the certificates supplied by the manufacturers of service equipment against the service
equipment;
(c) Issue an initial inspection and test report to the applicant relating to the detailed tests and
verifications carried out and the verified technical documentation;
(d) Draw up a written certificate of conformity of the manufacture and affix its registered mark
when the manufacture satisfies the provisions; and
(e) Check if the type approval remains valid after provisions of ADR (including referenced
standards) relevant to the type approval have changed.
The certificate in (d) and report in (c) may cover a number of items of the same type (group certificate
or report).